As the parliament member noted, there has been a sharp increase in the sales of dietary supplements (DS) in the Kyrgyz market recently. At the same time, a significant portion of this product has not been registered either in Kyrgyzstan or in other countries of the Eurasian Economic Union.
“This raises legitimate concerns. Products that lack state registration have not been assessed for safety, including through laboratory studies, which may pose a threat to the health of citizens,” the justification for the draft law states.
Until 2017, dietary supplements in Kyrgyzstan were classified as medicines, but they were later removed from this list and categorized as food products.
However, as the initiator of the draft law points out, some manufacturers and sellers of dietary supplements continue to advertise their products as medicines, misleading consumers and creating a false impression that dietary supplements can replace full-fledged treatment.
“Advertising materials and videos often feature people in white coats with medical attributes, creating the illusion of approval from medical professionals. Additionally, religious themes frequently appear in dietary supplement advertisements, which is a subtle yet effective manipulation aimed at gaining the trust of believers in the product. Advertisements also use images of children, manipulating parents' emotions,” emphasizes the deputy.
It is important to note that dietary supplements are not medicinal products. They do not treat or prevent diseases. The main risk lies in the substitution of real treatment.
A person with a serious illness, trusting in advertising, may refuse necessary therapy, leading to the progression of the disease.
The draft law proposes to introduce liability for violations in the advertising of dietary supplements.
According to the proposals of the draft law, individuals may be fined 150 calculation indicators (which amounts to 15,000 soms), while legal entities may face fines of 350 calculation indicators (35,000 soms).
